Lower Saxony to officially implement Cradle to Cradle principles

The C2C design concept is the only option “if we want to handle our resources reasonably”, says Olaf Lies, Minister for the Environment of the German federal state of Lower Saxony.

The patron of the fifth international Cradle to Cradle Congress, which took place on September 14th and 15th 2018 at Lueneburg Leuphana University, is planning a Wadden Sea partnership centre in the city of Wilhelmshaven, which is to be housed in a C2C-inspired building. According to Lies, the structure could be turned into a ”C2C branch location to demonstrate how it works.”

“THE IDEA COMES WITHOUT A RAISED INDEX FINGER”

Musician and Advisory Board Member Bela B also professes his enthusiasm about C2C: “What really convinced me is that the C2C-idea does not come with a big hammer – it comes without a raised index finger.” C2C conveys a positive feeling that Bela B also wants to transmit to his fans. The musician plans to offer merchandise articles that are produced adhering to C2C principles. At the same time he wants to inform the public about C2C.

Journalist and book author Dr. Franz Alt points out: “It is not about abstention, it is about a better life.” We can change the world with a positive footprint, and bust the chains of conventional thinking patterns.

Prof. Dr. Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker emphasises: “Cradle to Cradle was and is a bold approach to solve problems.” Environmental protection and the economy can unite in creating a real circular economy – that is what the C2C Congress, organised by the Cradle to Cradle Association with more than 100 voluntary helpers and 800 participants, demonstrated with many best practice examples.

C2C-ENTHUSIASTS DEVELOP A COUNTER CONCEPT

C2C offers an innovation-oriented solution to the problem of diminishing resources: Products are developed anew, incorporating healthy materials that can be reused in technical or biological cycles from the very beginning. Notable speakers from the fields of building and architecture, plastics, packaging, organic farming and this year’s special track, fashion & textiles, discussed about C2C as a motor for innovation in different formats. It became clear that visionaries and C2C-enthusiasts are needed to develop a counter concept to existing products, production processes and the economic system.

C2C pioneers demonstrate daily that they can produce healthy and fair textiles on a global level. Lauffenmühle, Melawear and C&A are proof that the concept is fit for the mass market. We need more companies to join in, says Donald Brenninkmeijer, Chief Innovation Officer at C&A. He stresses how important cooperation and the exchange of experiences is in regard to the production of C2C-textiles.

C2C-oriented innovations are also successful in the field of plastics and packaging. The importance of holistic solutions was demonstrated by Timothy Glaz from Werner & Mertz (most popular brand “Frosch”), who partly bottle their detergents in plastic-recyclates. To reach an all-encompassing change, however, politics, economy and consumers have to act in concert, as the former EU commissioner and now Co-Chair of the UN resource panel, Dr. Janez Potočnik emphasised.

“INNOVATIVE POWER OF THE C2C-COMPANIES IS IMPRESSIVE”

Tim Janßen, executive director of C2C e.V. has a positive outlook: “The clear growth in international speakers and guests motivates us immensely and strengthens us in our work as a NGO. With the Cradle to Cradle Congress we send a strong sign of change into society: The community is on the right track; the innovative power of the C2C-companies is impressive. That is why we’re proud to be the most important platform for C2C-innovation worldwide!”

Nora Sophie Griefahn, executive director of the C2C e.V. says: “We have to change our economic management, we have to rebuild all of society! It is great that more than 100 voluntary helpers were committed to doing that this weekend, but the older generation cannot leave all of that up to the younger generation. It is on all of us, we have to act now and work for a C2C world!”